2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its attempts to stay modern, showed its age with a design that dated back to 2007. The 2018 facelift brought minor updates to the headlights and grille, but the overall look remained largely unchanged. The introduction of the Nightshade Special Edition in 2021 added some flair, but the Sequoia's massive silhouette and outdated interior design, with its multi-tiered center dash and small 7-inch touchscreen, felt reminiscent of the mid-2000s. The cabin, though spacious, had bulky front seats that limited headroom for taller drivers, while the second row offered ample space and comfort. The Sequoia was available in several trims, including the SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade Edition, TRD Pro, and Platinum, each offering various features and upgrades.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, maintained a familiar and comfortable feel while offering a fresher interior compared to its smaller sibling, the Crosstrek. The Outback's interior featured a modern 11.6-inch portrait display on Premium and higher trims, surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. The quality of materials was evident, with Limited and Touring trims offering a luxury-like experience. The Onyx Edition XT, with its water-resistant StarTex upholstery and lime green stitching, added a touch of flair. The Outback's exterior design was smooth and plain, with high gray cladding for protection. It offered a lifted wagon experience, making it a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a robust 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration despite the Sequoia's hefty weight of up to 6,000 pounds. The Sequoia's driving dynamics were reminiscent of a truck, with a soft suspension and strong brakes. It could tow up to 7,400 pounds, which was less than some competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe but still respectable for its class.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, on the other hand, offered a base 2.5-liter flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This setup struggled with the Outback's weight, especially when fully loaded, resulting in sluggish performance. However, the XT trims featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving performance. The Outback's handling was designed for comfort, with long-travel springs and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable off-road. Subaru's all-wheel-drive system, with X-Mode for tougher conditions, enhanced its off-road prowess.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia boasted a spacious cabin with nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and 120 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. It featured a power-retractable rear window, a unique and practical feature for accessing the cargo area. While the Sequoia had ample storage options, newer SUVs offered better space utilization.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, with its impressive ground clearance, offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, providing excellent usability. The Outback's interior offered ample headroom and legroom, with superb outward visibility. Storage options were plentiful, with large map pockets, bottle holders, and a clever center console design. The Outback's standard roof rails with integrated crossbars were a standout feature, offering convenience and cost savings.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. The system, though dated, was user-friendly with simple menus and hard buttons. The digital trip computer was small but functional.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system, while appearing outdated, offered modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The optional navigation system was more visually appealing. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on cameras, which could limit its effectiveness in certain conditions.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, offering features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, it lacked more advanced features like lane-keeping assist and scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver and passenger airbags. It offered additional driver assists on higher trims, including blind-spot monitoring and rear emergency braking. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and received five stars overall from the NHTSA, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and rollover test.